Health, Rehabilitation and Recovery Directory

The Health, Rehabilitation and Recovery Directory provides information on Ex-Serving and Veteran Community Organisations throughout Australia, to assist with accessing the health and rehabilitation services they provide to current and ex-serving ADF members and their families.

To obtain further information, please contact the Ex-Service Organisation using the contact details provided.

Disclaimer

The material in this Directory is provided for general information only, and on the understanding that the Australian Government is not providing professional advice on a particular matter.

The material may include the views or recommendations of third parties, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government or indicate a commitment to a particular course of action.

This Directory contains information on selected health, rehabilitation and recovery services and also provides links to third party websites. Errors or omissions can occur in the preparation of web pages. Therefore, before relying on the material in this Directory or material provided via links from this Directory, users should independently verify its accuracy, completeness, relevance for their purposes and that it is up-to-date.

Before any action or decision is taken on the basis of any material in this Directory or any third party web site to which it refers, the user should obtain appropriate independent professional advice.

Links to third party websites are provided for the user's convenience and do not constitute endorsement of material at those sites, or any associated organisation, product or service. In going to any of these websites, you will be subject to the privacy, accessibility, copyright and other policies which may apply to the website.

National

National Ex-Service Organisations provide services across a range of locations.

Please contact these organisations via the details on this page to find out if they provide services in your area.

Defence Families Australia (DFA)

DFA is the official body appointed by government to represent the views of Defence Families. Its aim is to inform government and Defence on the needs of the family. Its goal is to ensure quality of life for all Defence families by providing a recognised forum for their views and by reporting, making recommendations and influencing policy that directly affects families.

Contact Details

Role

To assist the families of ADF members who seek its help with advocacy to obtain information on the benefits and assistance available to them from Defence, their rights and responsibilities, and the Defence policies that affect them. This may include DFA assisting Defence and other relevant stakeholders in their efforts to inform all families of these benefits, assistance, rights and responsibilities, and policies and any changes to them.

Programs

Description

Delivery

Target Group

Location

Area

Compensation & Advocacy Advice

Individual: Face-to-Face

Families of current serving members or veterans

Regional & National

National

Defence Force Welfare Association (DFWA)

The purpose of the DFWA is to foster the best interests and welfare of all members of the ADF and their families in any matter likely to affect them during or after their period of service.

Contact Details

Programs

Description

Delivery

Target Group

Location

Area

Compensation & Advocacy Advice

Individual: Face-to-Face

All Veterans

Local DFWA Branch

National

Legacy

Legacy is a charity providing services to Australian families suffering financially and socially after the incapacitation or death of a spouse or parent, during or after their defence force service. We currently care for around 90,000 widows and 1,900 children and disabled dependants throughout Australia.

Contact Details

Programs

Services are provided nationally to widows of veterans, youth dependents, dependents with a disability,
and partners and youth dependents of veterans with significant health issues that affect the family.

Services include:

Information, advice, assisted referrals, tailored family assistance, group social activities,

Emergency response,

Pensions and other compensation applications and advocacy,

Assistance with accessing training options and funding. Contribution to education costs if options not available.

Services are delivered to individuals either face to face or over the phone, in the family home, community
venues, or the Legacy office.

Partners of Veterans Association of Australia

The Association supports families and partners of veterans and current and Ex-serving Members of the ADF.

Picking Up The Peaces

Picking Up The Peaces is a not-for-profit organisation committed to a national health campaign to raise awareness about the early signs and symptoms of psychological injury and its associated mental and physical health difficulties. There is a strong focus on reducing the detrimental effects of mental health stigma through education and literacy programs.

Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL)

The RSL provides and supports advocay, welfare and pension claim advice to Australian and Allied Service and Ex-service persons, their spouses and dependants, widows and other Allied and needy persons.

Royal Australian Navy Relief Trust Fund (RANRTF)

The RANRTF was established by the Services Trust Funds Act 1947. The Act provides that the Trustees shall, subject to and in accordance with the regulations, apply the fund in providing benefits for ADF members who have served in the RAN and to the dependants of such members.

Programs

Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (VVAA)

The VVAA is a wholly volunteer body, whose sole interest is the welfare of veterans and the families of veterans. It has strong representation in every state and territory, and very close ties with equivalent organisations in the United States and New Zealand.

Contact Details

Programs

Welfare and pension officers provide referrals to professional services, support with compensation and rehabilitation claims.

A range of social and interactive facilities are provided or referred where options are available.

Referral to professional counselling services and in-house family support services.

Support and advice to transitioning members on request.

Some financial support can be provided.

Full welfare, pension and advocacy services available and provided.

Canberra

Keeping Watch

Keeping Watch (KW) was established by the RANRTF as an additional mechanism through which the Trustees may provide for the comfort, recreation or welfare of a person who is currently a member of the RAN (permanent or reserve).

Royal Society for the Blind

Operation K9 - our Assistance Dog Service - will provide Assistance Dogs to veterans referred to us by the RSL, and to service personnel who have been diagnosed and suffer from PTSD. Our future plans are to work with veterans and currently serving personnel with a broader range of disabilities and needs. We partner with the RSL.